TELESCOPE TIPS

5

TELESCOPES &amp ASTRONOMY

BACKYARD VIEWING

PLANETS

Cont'd.

Waiting for a clear patch!
The most detail will be seen as you study the image as it moves across the field of view.
Every now and then the atmosphere will go nearly perfectly clear to
allow the planet to
give away more of it's features. If your telescope allows it, adding a motor drive is a great
assistance to viewing the planets. Using a
motor drive means the telescope will stay perfectly
still while the viewer waits for the atmosphere to go still. This is better than waiting for the
telescope
to stop moving every time after re-positioning it when the planet has moved.

After a windy cold front goes through in Westen Australia, South Australia or Victoria,
the ground is left cold, smog pollutions get blown away and dry
winds are dragged in behind
the front. This is a good time to observe.

Although summer is the most enjoyable time to observe the night sky, the cold of winter
prevents heat fluctuations. Astronomy isn't physically active
so you must rug up extra
warm for the best viewing during winter.

Other Stuff
The planets are bright, so they don't really need a lot of light gathering. This means it does
not necessarily mean it has to be dark when observing them.
If there're in a good position
during dusk or dawn, keep observing.